€15.5 million for Offaly roads is warmly welcomed
Offaly County Council has received an allocation of €15.5 million for road improvement works across the county, with the biggest allocation of €2 million going to the Edenderry Inner Relief Road Phase 2.
Total funding of €626 million for regional and local road improvements nationwide was jointly announced today (Tuesday) by Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan and Minister of State, Jack Chambers, and will go towards maintaining 3,100km of regional and local roads and strengthening a further 2,500km of the road network.
The Birr Distributor Northern Road project is to benefit from funding of €100,000 under the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme and is due to receive an additional €50,000 under the allocations for strategic regional and local roads.
The L-1014 road in Walsh Island village, outside Geashill, is to receive €100,000 for safety improvement works, while allocations of €90,000 and €80,000 have been allocated respectively for works on the R420 Portarlington to Cloneygowan road at Derreen and also at Cloneygowan.
Among the bridge rehabilitation works which are due to funded under the latest round of funding from the Department of Transport are at Ballycowan; Rahan; Ballycommon; Rhode; Carrig Bridge and Aghagurty Bridge in Kinnity and Park Culvert in Shannon Harbour.
A total of €388,650 has been allocated for climate change adaptation and resilience works in Offaly, which has been warmly welcomed by local Green Party Minister, Pippa Hackett.
“This is a strong funding announcement for North Offaly and I am glad to see that safety works are included on the Portarlington to Clonygowan road at Derreen and Portarlington to Geashill at Clonygowan. I am also happy to see funding for the Cloncreen Peat Road Reconstruction and Raheennakeernan, Walsh Island of €75,000 for each project” said Minister Hackett.
She pointed out that, in addition to the projects named in the announcement there is “additional funding allocated to road safety schemes and signage that target improved road safety for vulnerable road users and vehicular traffic.”
The funding announcement has also been welcomed by local Fianna Fail TD, Barry Cowen, who said it will allow Offaly County Council to “repair, strengthen and maintain our roads across the region, ensuring they are fit for purpose. We are dedicating resources towards initiatives such as road repair, bridge rehabilitation, road safety measures, community engagement, drainage improvements, and climate change adaptation.”
Deputy Cowen said maintaining and improving the road network is “crucial to sustaining and developing our local economies across rural Ireland. These roads are imperative for children getting to school and people getting to work safely. Rural regeneration is a key priority for the Government and this investment programme for 2023 is further evidence of this” he added.